BC Cup hits the interior finally!!

Well after a race free weekend last weekend with some awesome MTB rides under the blue skies and sun I was ready for some more cx racing. Catharine Pendral had her BC Cup CX race in Kamloops yesterday. Other than thew ridiculously strong winds it was a great day. Costumes were flowing in the wind, our cookie medals were being ate on the podium and there was even a kids race!! With a total of 4 people in the elite race..it was interesting, along with a big battle for the podium. It was pretty dissapointing that not many coastal racers showed. As interior people drive down all fall long and the coastal people can't drive up once...sad I know. Thanks to the ones who did.

Anyway after Keith Wilson won his race, Catharine won her we needed to keep the win within the interior riders, and that meant myself or Matt Hewitt. We started somewhat fast and I wanted a clear shot at the barriers to have my first superman hopping experience. I was worried because Our favourite cross dressing Matt Hewitt was on my a*s the first couple laps, until he opted for a wheel change..why would be do that when he was so close.. I have always have motivation when someone is chasing to try and get further away, but when you have a cross dresser chasing at your behind I always seem to have a little more energy to try and distance myself...

After our first couple lap battle I was riding solo in the front, trying to have a good time and give some kids some high fives along the way. As well as throw out some uber sweet cx bike tweaks in the BMX track. As well as getting heckled by Keith Wilson, telling me his wife was riding faster. Probably true, but fine with me as shes has one of them multi coloured rainbow looking jerseys, shes supposed to be pretty fast.

As you see my forward akward podium pose here, there was a certain tight crotchle region in this suit, as it was a kids one. So I was trying to be a decent human being and not show my certain areas to everyone.

Some of the little tearing up the course! this guy is going to be making the big bucks in 20 years!

Hey buddy where's you bike!? I guess is doesn't matter, he's having fun and were having fun watching!

After a sweet single track ride yesterday with some friends I got the pleasure of driving home to a nice f 350 in the ditch. No one no skids and bloody bandages led me to believe something was fishy. Did some future police investigating and came to the assumption that the driver was a moron.

I had another holy Evan day today. Massage, coffee, chiro, clothes shopping, car work and tv. Refreshed and ready for another good week of good training and work.

Race Clean, Own Your Victory

You just can't say it enough. As an athlete trying to make it in a sport as clean as one can be, it just puts a smile on my face when hearing of other athletes getting caught for doping. Lets just call them Dopers not athletes, because they are taking short cuts and making the rest of the cycling world look bad. But as you can see it will come back to bite them in the A**.


http://www.canadiancyclist.com/dailynews.php?id=18624

Big Local Weekend

After a pretty relaxing weekend after Fort Collins I was feeling now half decent. Hopped on the big bike for a couple sweet mountain bike rides this week. It's definitely cold now, it went from shorts and jerseys to leg warmers and long sleeve's pretty quick.

Saturday was the 2nd annual Le Tour De Okanagan Spinathon, which is a charity spinathon for http://rally4life.org/ It's for a great cause so there was no way I wasn't going to be there. Pinnacle Elite Athlete was nice enough to sponsor it and let everyone use their gym. We had bikes hooked up to power tacx trainers and 4 stages lined up. With 4 man teams it was set to be a good battle. With one member from our team bailing I stepped up and rode two stages, so that was 2X50 min races on a trainer totaling 2:15. So my trainer riding went from 0-massive amounts pretty quick. Luckily it was pretty fun out there so I enjoyed every minute. We had lots of money raised so it was a success! I came out of that pretty tired, but i rested up for the big CX race the next day.

Sunday turned into another Okanagan bluebird day, other than the freezing cold morning temperatures it was a great day. Organizers really stepped up and brought one of the best CX races into the interior yet. With an awesome course, coffee, live band and tons of spectators it was the best reaction yet from crowds and racers. We all had a pretty fun time out there, had pop tart, dill pickle and bacon hand outs at the top of the run up. And some good heckling forsure. I had some good legs today and was able to take the win, Mrs Catharine Pendral took the womens as well. I won a plate sized cookie, which I started eating right away..

Fort Collins USGP Rounds 3&4

Well I have now completed my first US Grand Prix weekend of Cyclo-Cross. Couldn't of done it without Maxxis-Rocky Mountain mechanics Gary and James. Not used to having a trailer, let alone one that's heated. As well as 2 pit people. Did my first bike change during the Saturday race as the nice mud started to turn into nutella halfway through..

I flew into Boulder Thursday and stayed the mechanics house. Geoff arrived Friday morning and we got out for a spin at the local bike park. Did some sweet laps on their CX course and contemplated laps of the 4X course, but we thought all the "cool" young dirt jumpers would make fun of us. So we rode the mini non see-able 4X course and tried a mini wall ride on the CX bikes..

Saturday was a slow morning with coffee shop interwebbing followed by the drive to Fort Collins from Boulder. We heard it snowed overnight in Denver and was sleeting in Boulder. I was hoping for snow on the ground but I settled for rain and mud. We arrived to a beautiful course layout on the side of a hill(racer's garmins showed about 950 ft of climbing each race). The trailer was warm. I sort of did a junior move this weekend and brought clothes for winter conditions, just not clothes for wet winter conditions. Made pre-riding, changing, riding, racing, changing kinds tough. Lots of layers proved best against the wet and mud. I wouldn't call Sunday my best race so far this CX season. Set my sights high after a 9th at Starcrossed..since then things have seemed to not be as good. I would have called Saturday my perfect race consitions, but with not snap in the legs and no massive horse power that meant slow riding in the mud. I had to settle for 20th and 4th U23. I really wanted to be on the U23 podiums..but I failed there..I guess riding in your 38t small ring all race doesn't say 'fast'.

Saturday night was a tough clean up with our bath tub looking like someone dumped a wheels barrow of dirt it. I had the blow dryer just sitting in my shoes for long periods of time to dry off. Dinner out seemed to fill my belly well and good sleep led to me waking up feeling pretty dam decent. Another coffee shop morning, with a whole foods visit and beer run for post race. Had to get Geoff to buy beer for me, sucks being legal for almost 2 year in Canada and then going to the states seems like I'm still in high school. Showed up at the course with it looking like a crew came and paved it. 100% opposite conditions for both days. I would have thought I would sh*t the bed even worse Sunday but I had better legs and actually used my big rings which meant I was going faster. I started to feel better near the end, almost wished for the first time in my life the race would have 1 more lap. Finished a way better day for 16th, I missed 3rd U23 by a matter of feet at the finish, and 2nd U23 was only 20 sec away. Balls. Came close to the goals but still empty handed. Good weekend of knowledge put into my head as well as some more motivation. Although I now get to go home and tell me friends that Sunday I made a whopping 29 dollars...they couldn't even make it an even $30 for my dignity. After a pretty quick clean up and watching Barry Wicks do a reverse donut to burnout and spary mud all over the Kona trailer in a Gran Marquis we were off to Boulder. Settled for pink burgers for Thanksgiving dinner. Had the nice 4:45 AM wake up, bonus was I finished my 10 HR travel by 3 PM.

Had some days back at work, followed by a wicked long travel bike ride in the rain. Trails were minty! This week focus is some good food and some sweet downhill trails.

-Gossip Girl

Found another sweet cheering shot from MTB Worlds. This was the start of how I lost my voice for a couple days..

Racing with the Big Boys

Just hanging out in the Vancouver waiting to head on down to Denver Colorado for some USGP action with Mr Geoff Kabush and Gary Wolff.http://www.usgpcyclocross.com I thought I would just jump into some big CX races this fall and see what happens. I've already enjoyed it and seeing now what I can do with it.

Last time I updated I was just getting ready for a big weekend of local CX/MTB racing. Saturday was the local CX race, which is a apart of Catharine Pendral's interior 'cross series. Event was great, and Jeff Plant the course designer put in a ton of man hours and bobcat hours making sure the course was 100% dialed as can be. I didn't hear one complaint all day, just saw smiles. Especially when their names were called the most waited prizes of the day, The pie's. After that I decided that eating a pizza at 2:30 in the afternoon was a sufficient enough of food for the rest of the day, even though there was a 4 hour enduro MTB the next morning. Race went well, I was able to take the W infront of Kamloopian Mr Keith Wilson. I was also able to turn a little hill top roller into a sweet spot for a boosting CX bike tweaks..

Sunday came quick and so did the bonk...Funny enough on Saturday I was talking with Mrs. Pendrals husband Keith Wilson and he was giving me tips on how to create and conquer the perfect bonk, I was thrilled to get these tips I had never experienced the full blown bonk. I was up early and out the door early to get to the event to help if needed and get our Bike Barn team area all set up. I was hoping to get in a solid 4 hrs hard ride today, and hopefully not dig myself a big whole of fatigue. But immediately there were guys sticking my wheel and staying there, I don't like riding in groups so I was made a couple little efforts to get out alone, I was really trying to just get away from Axel Merckx, as I was talking some smack before hand. Him and his wife came away with the mixed team win. I carried on along for the first 4 laps and all I sudden I thought hey its 2:15 into 4 hrs and I eaten and drank like its a 1:30 XC race..and ridden a pace for like a 2.5 hr race..Then the body started shutting down and I tried to eat cookies, drink red bull for wings and takes gels for a quick boost until all the other food kicked in. I lost the lead while eating and drinking in the feed zone. And started lap 5 and then Boom! the bonk came knocking, I slowed down and tried to not cramp up. Then all of a sudden I found myself walking the steep hills, then walking the flats and then almost having to walk the downhills. I was full on into the bonk zone and pain cave at this time of 2:45. I was doing steady 30 min laps and then my 5th, which turned into my final, was 50 min..I just so made it back to the team tent and decided for a sit down. Not being able to eat because my gut was like a washing machine with jet fuel in, I just laid there and tried to soak in and enjoy the bonk as much as possible. After an hour of this I decided it was time for the self-assisted throw up so that I could eat! After successfully accomplishing the emptying of my stomach I had a nice bowl of rice and started to get back to real life. Then I opted for the double cheesburger with mushrooms. This seemed to solve all my problems, as within a half hour I was back to normal, a shame I know. Not the best personal day, but the event, the smiles, the kids, the families it was amazing. I was truly glad to be apart of such a great event. Hopefully its a go for next year!

After a week of some junior style recovery movies(i.e. nothing..)Moving some heavy furniture, trying to sleep at 6,000 in prep for Fort Collins, later nights, early morning drive to the race, 20 min warm up and 1 lap on course I was ready for a great day! I was still convinced in pre-ride that I was ready to kill it. But after lap 1 when I couldn't even follow a simple move I knew I was done for. I just tried to ride and get back on that front group for the first 4-5 laps and after I knew that was never going to happen I just settled and tried to smile for people and pretend I was didn't want to throw my bike. Tyler Trace once again 3 years in a row took the convincing win with Andrew Pinfold not too far off. Kevin Noiles in third Kevin Calhoun in and 4th and myself taking the final podium spot. I was pretty pissed with having to drive 7.5 hrs in total that day for a 1 race of shitting the absolute bed. After driving a friend back to UBC I was on my way home, opting for some better recovery food and some stretching before/during/after the race I'm hoping to come around for this weekend, it's a big trip, big races and lots on the line. Need some show myself this weekend for sure. After the most rain I've ever seen in the Okanagan in 1 week I should be rested, as that meant a couple easy days on the trainer and some good cooking!

Out for now

-eg